Display device for a bottle
A display device for a bottle includes a pedestal, and a display panel for holding and retaining the bottle. The display panel is formed of two transparent shells extending upwardly from the pedestal, each shell being provided with a recess and being moveable, with respect to the pedestal, between a closed position in which the shells are adjacent and in which the recesses together from an internal cavity the shape of which is complementary with the shape of the bottle, and an open position in which the shells are spaced from each other.
The invention relates to a display device for a bottle, e.g. a bottle of precious alcohol such as an old brandy, and to a package including such a display device together with the corresponding bottle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONVarious bottle displays or bottle supports are known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,733,041 discloses a display device for a bottle of wine simulating an antique wine press. It includes a base with means to center the bottle and a structure carrying a clamp that holds the bottle firmly on the base. A collar fits the neck of the bottle to secure the bottle transversely relative to the structure.
There is still a need for display devices designed for showing to advantage the peculiar shape of decorative objects, such as jewel-like bottles.
There is also a need for display devices, in particular for bottles, the precious alcohol of which needs to be preserved from being hastily consumed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe invention provides a display device for a bottle, comprising:
-
- a pedestal;
- a display panel for holding and retaining the bottle, said display panel being formed of two transparent shells extending upwardly from the pedestal, each shell being provided with a recess and being moveable, with respect to the pedestal, between a closed position in which the shells are adjacent and in which the recesses together form an internal cavity the shape of which is complementary with the shape of the bottle, and an open position in which the shells are spaced from each other.
The bottle is thereby shown to advantage through the transparent shells on top of the pedestal, whereas actuation of the shells to the open position gives manual access to the bottle.
According to one preferred embodiment, the display device is further provided with a lock having a locked position in which it locks the shells in their closed position, thereby preventing the bottle from being removed from the cavity, and an unlocked position in which the lock allows said shells to move to their open position, thereby allowing removal of the bottle from the cavity.
Accordingly, it is necessary to unlock and open the display panel in order to remove the bottle therefrom and pour the beverage.
The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description of preferred embodiments, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Referring to
The display device 1 comprises a pedestal 4 to be put on a shelf or any other suitable furniture, and a rectangular display panel 5 for holding and retaining the bottle 2.
The display device 1 has two configurations, i.e. a closed configuration, in which removal of the bottle 2 from the display panel 5 is prevented, and an open configuration, in which access to and removal of the bottle 2 from the display panel 5 is allowed.
The display panel 5 is formed of two transparent symmetrical shells 6, 7 extending upwardly from the pedestal 4, each shell comprising a metallic frame 8 and a transparent core 9 mounted thereon. The core 9 is preferably made of Plexiglas, polycarbonate, or the like, and is provided with a recess 10.
Each shell 6, 7 is moveable, with respect to the pedestal 4, between:
-
- a closed position, corresponding to the closed configuration of the display device 1, in which the shells 6, 7 are adjacent and in which the recesses 10 together form an internal cavity 11, the shape of which is complementary with the shape of the bottle 2 (
FIGS. 1 , 4), and - an open position, corresponding to the open configuration of the display device 1, in which the shells 6, 7 are spaced from each other (
FIG. 5 ).
- a closed position, corresponding to the closed configuration of the display device 1, in which the shells 6, 7 are adjacent and in which the recesses 10 together form an internal cavity 11, the shape of which is complementary with the shape of the bottle 2 (
In one preferred embodiment, the display device 1 also comprises a lock 12 having a locked position in which it locks the shells 6, 7 in their closed position, and an unlocked position in which the shells 6, 7 are free to move to their open position.
As depicted on
In a preferred embodiment depicted on
The lock 12, which is mounted on the pedestal 4, can be put in either position by means of a key (not shown) after having displaced to an uncovering position (in plain line on
For example, the recesses 10 are such shaped that the cavity 11 has an enlarged central portion 21, and a narrower upper portion 22 corresponding to a neck 23 of the bottle 2.
As depicted on
In addition, in a preferred embodiment depicted on
Accordingly, in the closed configuration of the display device 1, in which the shells 6, 7 are locked in their closed position, the bottle 2 is prevented from being removed from the cavity 11, whereas the cap 27 is prevented from being separated from the bottle 2. Unlocking the display device 1 is therefore necessary in order do access the bottle and pour the beverage.
In the open configuration of the display device 1, which is achieved after unlocking and putting the shells 6, 7 in their open position, removal of the bottle 2 from the cavity 11 is thereby allowed.
As depicted on
In one preferred embodiment, the cores 9 of the shells 6, 7 have cutouts 32 together forming, in the closed position, an aperture 33 allowing the bottle 2 to be touched even in the closed position. The cutouts 32 are shaped so that the aperture 33 corresponds to the shape of the internal cavity 11 at a plane corresponding to the surface of the core 9. As discussed above, the shape of the internal cavity 11 corresponds to the shape of the bottle. On the other hand, the cutouts 32 facilitate manual access to the bottle 2 in the open configuration, so that it is not necessary to turn the bottle 2 while removing it from the display device 1. Moreover, the bottle 2 may be thicker than the display panel 5, so that it emerges through the aperture 33 in the closed configuration of the display device 1 (
In a second embodiment, depicted on
-
- the display panel 5 has a circular shape;
- the shells 6, 7 are pivotally mounted with respect to the pedestal 4 around axis X1, X2;
- the shells 6, 7 are thicker and higher than the bottle 2 and have no cutouts, whereby, in the closed configuration of the display device 1 (
FIG. 8 ), the bottle 2, including its cap 27, is totally enclosed in the display panel 5 and does not emerge from it;
Of course, the shells 6, 7 will open at a sufficient angular aperture in the open position so as to permit easy removal of the bottle 2 (
As depicted on
Claims
1. Display device for a bottle, comprising:
- a pedestal, and
- a display panel for holding and retaining a bottle, said display panel being formed of two transparent shells extending upwardly from the pedestal, each shell comprising a frame and a core mounted thereon, the core of each shell being rigid and provided with a concave, arcuate recess and each shell being moveable with respect to the pedestal, between a closed position in which the shells are partly adjacent and in which the recesses together form an internal cavity the shape of which is partly complementary with the shape of a bottle, and an open position in which the shells are spaced from each other,
- the cores further have lateral faces provided with lateral cutouts together forming, in the closed position, a lateral aperture allowing a bottle held in the recess to be touched even in the closed position, the internal cavity opening out into said lateral aperture.
2. Display device according to claim 1, further comprising a lock having a locked position in which the shells are locked in their closed position, thereby preventing the bottle from being removed from the cavity, and an unlocked position in which said shells are allowed to move to their open position, thereby allowing removal of the bottle from the cavity.
3. Display device according to claim 1, wherein the shells are slidingly mounted with respect to the pedestal.
4. Display device according to claim 1, wherein the shells are pivotally mounted with respect to the pedestal.
5. Display device according to claim 1, wherein each shell comprises a rack engaging a common gear, whereby the shells are forced to move together with each other, from one position to the other.
6. Display device according to claim 5, further comprising a lock having a locked position in which the shells are locked in their closed position and the racks are blocked in the closed position, thereby preventing the bottle from being removed from the cavity, and an unlocked position in which said shells are allowed to move to their open position, thereby allowing removal of the bottle from the cavity.
7. Display device according to claim 6, wherein the racks are received in the pedestal, whereas the lock is mounted on the pedestal.
8. Display device according to claim 1, wherein each recess forms a top cutout in a top face of the corresponding shell, whereby the top cutouts together form, in the closed position of the shells, an orifice through which a closure cap of a bottle can emerge from the display panel.
9. Display device according to claim 8, wherein each recess forms, in the vicinity of the cutout, a shoulder surface, whereby, in the closed position of the shells, the shoulder surfaces together form an annular stop surface for retaining the closure cap of the bottle.
10. Package comprising
- a bottle, and
- a display device including: a pedestal, and a display panel for holding and retaining the bottle, said display panel being formed of two transparent shells extending upwardly from the pedestal, each shell comprising a frame and a core mounted thereon, the core of each shell being rigid and provided with a concave, arcuate recess and each shell being moveable, with respect to the pedestal, between a closed position in which the shells are partly adjacent and in which the recesses together form an internal cavity the shape of which is partly complementary with the shape of the bottle, and an open position in which the shells are spaced from each other;
- the cores further have lateral faces provided with lateral cutouts together forming, in the closed position, a lateral aperture allowing a bottle held in the recess to be touched even in the closed position, the internal cavity opening out into said lateral aperture.
11. Display device according to claim 1, wherein the shape of the lateral aperture corresponds to the shape of the internal cavity at the lateral face.
12. Display device according to claim 1, wherein when viewed in a direction facing the lateral face, a dimension of an outline of the lateral aperture is smaller than that of a corresponding dimension of the internal cavity.
13. Display device according to claim 12, wherein when viewed in a direction facing the lateral face, the difference between the dimension of the outline of the lateral aperture and that of the corresponding dimension of internal cavity is sufficient to retain a bottle in the recess in closed position.
14. Package according to claim 10, wherein the bottle is thicker than the display panel, so that in the closed position it emerges through the aperture.
15. Package according to claim 10, wherein the lateral aperture has the same shape as that of the bottle.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Jul 1, 2005
Date of Patent: Jun 9, 2009
Patent Publication Number: 20070018060
Assignee: Société Jas Hennessey Et Compagnie (Cognac)
Inventors: Gaël Ollard (Clearwater, FL), Christophe Guichard (La Garenne Colombes)
Primary Examiner: J. Allen Shriver, II
Assistant Examiner: Bradley H Duckworth
Attorney: Occhiuti Rohlicek & Tsao LLP
Application Number: 11/174,293
International Classification: A47G 23/02 (20060101);